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After going into executive session for over an hour on Monday, September 12, Yorktown City Council unanimously voted to appoint Gary Smith as Interim Chief of Police for the City of Yorktown effective September 13. Council also unanimously voted to take Officer Vicente Flores off of administrative leave with pay and return Officer Flores to regular duty effective September 13. Council members William Baker, Travis Peyton, Manuel Serrano, Blaine Denbo and Ruben “BB” Garcia were present for the meeting, along Mayor Rene Hernandez and City Administrator Robert Mendez.

Throughout downtown Cuero, it is difficult not to notice the array of flowers. From Esplanade to East Main and Church Street, flowers adorn the city sidewalks. Helen Villarreal works diligently to keep everything looking just right. Mayor Sara Post- Meyer will ask Villarreal what she thinks looks nice, as they work together on the upkeep.

Cuero city council’s second public hearing on the 2016-2017 proposed tax rate and budget went quickly. There was no one from the community who attended to speak at the Tuesday, Sept. 23 meeting. The new tax rate is set at $0.33 per $100 valuation. This rate exceeds the effective tax rate but is lower than the rollback tax rate. State law requires two public hearings be held by the governing body before adopting the proposed tax rate.

Downtown Cuero will soon offer a new place to grab a bite to eat, while also having a shopping market. R&R Market, located at 201 Stockdale, is preparing for their first event Turkeyfest weekend, Oct. 8 at 8 a.m. They are located directly behind the Cuero Post Office. R&R Market is a collaborative business venture between Kevin Ryan and Brian Gomez. Located at the old Hansen Feed Store, they will have food trucks outside with an area of tables for people to eat, while the inside will have a 400-plus square foot convenience area downstairs and shopping area upstairs. Artists and crafters will be able to rent spaces upstairs and sell their products, as part of phase two of the market.

Cuero area church men’s groups are supportng an effort to provide free smoke alarms to residents locally. The high quality smoke alarms are provided by Texas Gulf Coast Region Red Cross through a five-year grant program. Butch Tolbert and Jerry Wanjura of Cuero are working to notify residents that want one or more of the smoke alarms installed in their homes. St. Mark’s Lutheran Men in Mission and Methodist Mens Group have been notifying members of their churches about the smoke alarm program.

All across America, they’re emerging from houses, apartments and even business offices. From the young to the young at heart, people are rising from their comfy couches, putting down their video game controls or laptops, and venturing out into the streets. Arms extended, cell phones in hand, they are on a quest. Bystanders stare at them quizzacly at they walk by, wondering, What on earth are they looking for? Maybe a better cell phone signal? Umm, no! Maybe taking a selfie? Nice try, but no! Looking for Pikachu? Booyah! The Pokemon Go phenomenon has taken the country by storm.

Vicente Flores 51, of Edna Texas, turned himself into the DeWitt County Sheriff’s Office Monday, September 19, at approximately 10 a.m. after being indicted on a charge of official oppression. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor carrying a penalty of not more than one year in a county jail and/or a fine of not more than $4,000. Flores was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Peggy Mayer, posted the $2,500. bond and was released. Story will be updated as more information becomes available.

Even though it’s only been a few days since his appointment, Yorktown Interim Chief of Police Garry Smith is working on getting the Yorktown Police Department “back to normal.”

Smith has been working with the Yorktown Police Department since February 2012 as a part-time officer. He was appointed the Interim police chief position at the Yorktown City Council meeting on Monday, September 12. Smith began his duties on Tuesday, September 13.

Smith has been in law enforcement for 24 years, serving in various capacities, including patrol officer and chief of police. His last position was serving as chief of police at a San Antonio school district, ACT.

Smith has a master’s degree in management, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in business education. He is also a 1998 graduate of the Leadership Community College at Sam Houston State University and has 6,500 training hours.